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Updated: Jun 4, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Pediatric penile anthropometry nomogram: Establishing standardized reference values
Prabudh Goel1, Prativa Choudhury1, Sampreeti Mukherjee1
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
This study created an age-based penile length chart for Indian boys aged 1-14 years. The findings help define normal penile growth and aid in diagnosing conditions like hypospadias.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Urology
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Penile anthropometry is crucial for assessing male genital development and identifying abnormalities.
- Establishing age-related norms is essential for clinical management, particularly for conditions affecting penile length.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an age-specific penile length nomogram for Indian children (1-14 years).
- To define the range of normal penile length for different age groups.
- To provide age-matched reference data for managing pediatric urogenital conditions like hypospadias.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1276 Indian boys aged 1-14 years.
- Stretched penile length (SPL) was measured and recorded along with age and weight.
- Generalized additive models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) were used to generate centile curves for SPL.
Main Results:
- Stretched penile length (SPL) significantly increases with age, from 3.4 cm at 1 year to 12.7 cm at 14 years.
- Non-linear growth patterns were observed, with accelerated SPL increases during early childhood (2-4 years) and puberty (10-14 years).
- Centile curves were generated, providing a reference range for normal penile length across different ages.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the largest dataset for pediatric stretched penile length in the Indian population.
- The developed nomogram serves as a valuable tool for parents and physicians in evaluating penile development.
- The data will aid in the accurate assessment and management of pediatric patients with conditions affecting penile size.
Abstract:
Anthropometry of the penis holds significant cultural and clinical importance, reflecting male genital development and aiding in the early identification of abnormalities.
Objectives:
To develop an age-related penile length nomogram for Indian children, to define a range of normalcy, and to develop age-matched controls for penile length assessment in managing conditions like hypospadias.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study (Design) initiated post-Institute Ethics Committee clearance (Ethics) based on 1276 volunteers (boys) aged 1-14 years (Participants) presenting to a pediatric surgery clinic (Setting) for conditions not affecting penile length. Participants were registered for the study and their age(years), weight(kg), and stretched penile length (SPL in cm) were recorded (Intervention). Generalized additive models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS/extension of LMS method) were used. Outcome measures included weight (mean/range) and SPL (mean/range/standard deviation/median/centiles). The four distribution parameters were modeled as non-parametric smoothing cubic-spline functions of x with Box-Cox Power Exponential (BCPE) distribution and centiles (3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95, 97) were calculated for the stretched penile length.
Results:
SPL increases with age (3.4 cm in a 1-year-old to 12.7 cm in a 14-year-old) of the child in a non-linear fashion (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). Centile curves showed two phases of steep SPL increase, at ages 2-4 years and 10-14 years, reflecting early childhood growth and pubertal spurt respectively.
Conclusions:
This is the largest cross-sectional study on the pediatric SPL in the Indian population. The data will serve as a useful resource for both parents and physicians in assessing penile development and guiding patient management.
